People: Local Glasgow West End Characters.

The West End of Glasgow has the highest number of graduates among its population of any place in the UK (so they say). For sure, the area is dense with students and those who have studied in the area. The list of graduates from places such as Glasgow University, Glasgow School of Art, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Art (the UK’s only Conservetoire) is long and impressive. More than a few have moved on to achieve great things and many of them choose to live in the area.

Apart from the scholars and literati the West End population has a hefty element of creative, talented and interesting individuals. Fashion experts inform us that Boho is back – but as far as the West End is concerned it has never been away. Poets, actors, artists, academics, photographers, writers, historians, designers, restaurateurs, entrepreneurs, comedians and people of wit, wisdom and style contribute to the unique atmosphere of the area.

I’m building up quite a collection of ‘local characters’ on these pages – and continuously compiling a never-ending list of those I hope to add.

In 2016 Avril Paton created a large painting of Kelvingrove Art Gallery – it will be on loan to Kelvingrove from 17 May, 2018. Avril’s painted piano ‘Beatrix Rose’ in Queen’s Cross Church, part of Glasgow Piano City projects. You can listen to Tom Binn’s chatting to Pat about his work with Glasgow Piano City […]

A few weeks back I went along to Glasgow University to the Robert Burns Centre to meet Gerry Carruthers, or Dr Gerard Carruthers, Reader in Scottish Literature and Head of the Department of Scottish Literature. (Now Professor Gerard Carruthers) A Clydebank lad, I’ve known Gerry for a very long time, as we did a lot […]

This feature was discontinued in 2001 because it became a magnet for spam. I saw the wee fat one out of Chewin the Fat – Ford Kiernan? gettig a short, back and sides in barbers in Byres Rd. He didn’t have much hair to cut and the barber spent most of the time slagging him […]

I met Janey at Mansions Cafe-Bar at Charing Cross where she runs Jester’s Comedy Club, compering the Friday and Saturday night shows and performing her own stand up comedy act. Mansions is housed in a very impressive building and I was soon to learn that Janey herself is pretty impressive – full of confidence, grittiness […]

Harry Kelly died in 2008 – he bequeathed a collection of ceramics to The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery at Glasgow University further information Henry E. (Harry) Kelly is a talented writer, and enthusiastic and friendly West End character and a real expert on Scottish Ceramics. His knowledge of the subject is awesome and his […]

Jim and I met Basia at Nancy Smillie’s Gallery and Shop in Cresswell Lane where she works – when she is not busy writing her lovely poetry. She is very involved with the Polish Social and Educational Society and can be found reading her poetry at their very lively and enjoyable ‘Evenings of Word and […]

When we set about promoting our Glasgow West End Web site Gordon Urquhart, Assistant Director of Glasgow Conservation Trust West was one of the first people to show an interest in what we were up to. This was reciprocated and we were particularly intrigued to learn about the book Gordon was writing about the area […]

Shelia Reid, Partick Playwright. Recently a drama has been unfolding in Partick . Sheila Reid’s play ‘Rent Strike Memories’ about the Rent Strikes in Partick in 1915, when local housewives rebelled against rent increases, was not only a resounding success but has given birth to a Community Theatre. A force to be reckoned with, Sheila […]

Update September, 2012 Anne Whitaker took a long sabbatical at the end of 2001, during which time she wrote two books, one published in the USA and the other on the Web. She has also kept a blog Writing from the Twelfth House since 2008. For further details check out www.anne-whitaker.com Anne is happy to […]

A woman with a big personality and emphatic presence Lesley Riddoch, BBC broadcaster could be the West End’s prize contender for an oscar in communications. However, not only has she been very successful in her chosen career of journalism and broadcasting – in her forty years she has made her mark in a number of […]

In recent years the West End has experienced its fair share of renewal and change. Property developments, interesting projects, new restaurants and some excellent coffee bars have all been welcomed with open arms. Nothing, however, has caught the imagination of local people quite so much as the Skerryvore Project (OranMor) – this massively expensive and […]

When Michael Bowes participated in the United Nations Model Millennium Summit, earlier this year, he identified one of the highlights of the event as listening to a speech by Kofi Annan – “his speech was a true inspiration to all of the youths”. Little did Michael realize at that time that he would be off […]

Michael Bowes: at United Nations Model Millennium Summit Michael meets Kofi Annan in New York I was truly delighted when I heard the good news that I had been chosen to represent Scotland at the United Nations Model Millennium Summit and even more pleased that my school friend and debating partner, David McIntyre, could join […]

My friend Mary McGoldrick McIntosh died on 1st December, 2001. We were friends almost all our lives and first met when we went to St Mary’s Primary School at the age of 5. We lived in each other’s pockets throughout our youth and after a taste of hitch hiking in Europe in 1966 we headed […]

Department of Economic and Social History, University of Glasgow. Professor Eleanor Gordon – see further information below including Books. I have been eagerly awaiting ‘Murder and Morality in Victorian Britain: The Story of Madeleine Smith’ Eleanor Gordon and Gwyneth Nair – due out on 20th August, 2009 – now available on Amazon This book explores […]

Eileen McCusker has lived in the West End of Glasgow since 1990 when she returned to Scotland after living in New York City for 10 years. She loves staying in the West End where she has a brilliant flat. Eileen has a great time “hanging out with people” and is a big fan of the […]

Suzanne designed the cover for Jim Byrne’s album The Innocent – February, 2012 Suzanne McGreevy is a Westender who came all the way over from America just to live here! Maybe it wasn’t just the location – the attractions of her husband Andy might have had something to do with it. 🙂 She is a […]

(Strategy for Glasgow City Centre Lanes – March, 2018) Willie Miller is an Urban Designer, who lives in Glasgow’s West End. He is part of the design team commissioned by Glasgow City Council to deliver the major redesign and redevelopment of Byres Road, arguably Glasgow West End’s main street. Working in partnership with landscape architects […]

I’ve been a bit lax in updating my Glasgow West End Characters on the site so I started making a list of possible candidates. Westender Allan Tall, with his fascinating career in music, theatre and television seemed to fit the bill. I caught up with him in Tinderbox on Byres Road for a natter. He’s […]

King of the Courts – The Glasgow Cabbie – raising money with the help of Andy Murray People Make Glasgow – Glasgow Cabbie’s welcome on the Tour Bus Glasgow is a city of surprises, if you look beyond the beautiful buildings to the empty spaces you find all sorts of delights, including poems! It […]

I have to admit I’ve always been slightly scared of personal trainers; Convinced they’d make me do things I didn’t want to do and yell at me if I didn’t reach peak fitness in less time than it takes to throw off my high heels. But my opinion changed dramatically when I met Paul Rutherford. […]

Ranald’s GI Bride comes home to Partick – February, 2011 Often people tell me about Local Characters they would like to see featured on the website. Some time ago Roy Beers, who knows all there is to know about who’s who and what’s what in the West End, mentioned that Ranald MacColl would make an […]

(101 Men in Kilts, photography by Bob McDevitt) Bob McDevitt is a Glasgow based photographer, who focuses on taking photographs of people including professional headshots, family portraits and weddings. Among his work you’re likely to see photographs relating to his other passions: the stage and books. In his spare time Bob has acting in […]

Our brother John died just the other day on 30th December 2011. It was very unexpected as he had been not been ill and had been very well and happy just the day before. In many ways John could be considered to have had a very sad, even tragic, life as he acquired brain damage […]

Juliet stars as Queen Morgiana – Snow White, The Kings, until 10 January, 2016 I have been aiming to add some more interesting West End Characters to the website for quite some time and particularly keen to include more women in this section. Thus I was delighted to meet up with Juliet Cadzow for a […]

Tom Cannavan – formidable force in the world of wine and web-master of http://www.wine-pages.com A man of many talents and wide ranging experiences he’s enjoyed a circuitous route in arriving at his present position. A graduate from Glasgow School of Art Tom worked for a number of years as an Art Teacher before moving on […]

Phil Benson is a very ‘well kent face’ around the West End. He can often be seen strolling purposefully along Great Western Road with his dog Zoltan by his side. When the weather is clement he can also be spotted working ferociously, high in a tree in Kelvingrove Park, where a wood sculpture of a […]

Michael Dale presents an urbane and elegant figure; easily spotted around the West End with his thick mane of silver hair and smart suits. He is often out and about, enjoying a meal at Cottier’s or strolling through the park with his wife Freddie. Freddie and Michael live in the West End, in the lovely […]